Naturally Yemi

Saturday, 7 July 2012

Oh my days!! I feel like I haven't been on here in ages.. Well that is because I have not. I had to crank up the study time for med school.. Who would have thought.. huh... I had to wake up earlier (I am already a morning person) and sleep later (ughhh I am so not a night person)... ended up finishing 5 final exams last week so I just thought I would stop by and say hi and I am still alive.. This is how I have felt for the last 2 months!!

AND I felt like this...

As for my hair... definitely less TLC these past 2 months..protective styling seemed like the only option. I got extension twists when the summer semester started (my school is year around)... But you know the feeling when you REALLY want your hair back.. that is how I have felt lately... but in regards to my studying and gym regimen (trying to get fit) these extension twists have come in handy. So 1 more month left of this term and my hair shall be FREEEEEE!!!

Soooo enough about me and my med school drama... how are you wearing your hair these days??

Saturday, 26 May 2012

I have always wanted to go to hair meet-ups BUT they don't have any in the Cayman Island so I will live vicariously through others...for now..I must say that Hair Meetups are definitely on the rise in the UK.. Below are some events coming up.Take a friend or go by yourself and make new friends....just GO & ENJOY!!!

Monday, 21 May 2012

Geez it has been some time since I had the chance to feature a Hairlight of the Day. Since I had a few medical school exams this morning, my hair has not been as funky as usual. Luckily, this next Hairlight of the Day has a youtube channel that has inspired my hair styles during this exam period. Ms. Helecia who goes by the name I Know Lee took the time to tell me about some of her natural hair secrets. If you haven't viewed her page on facebook or youtube channel, it is a MUST.. She discusses style.. from clothing, make up, and most importantly HAIR!! Check out below what this H-town Hottie has to say about natural hair and some of her experiences!!

Introduce yourself

My real name is Helecia Williams. I had so many issues in school of people pronouncing my name wrong so I always had nick names. The most common was Lee Lee. Thats where the youtube name I Know Lee came from. I thought it was catchy.....Do you know Lee?

Location

Houston ( H-Town), Texas

Why did you choose to go natural

My sister encouraged me to try something different mainly because she was going natural. I loved changing my hair so I took the risk and just went for it.

If you had to describe your hair in one word, what would it be?

THICK.....It is beyond thick. I knew it was thick before I went natural but it was straight. Once I had a full head of curly hair, it hit me that I have a head full of hair.

When and how did you transition to natural hair?

I wanted to transition but I didn't have the patience. I wore weave for about two months just to let my perm grow out. Once I took the weave out, I decided to just do a big chop. I ended up with about a half of an inch of hair.

What is your hair regimen?

I wash my hair once a week with shampoo bars. I deep condition at least twice a month. Every time that I wash, I condition and apply a leave in conditioner. Then I add a butter and usually do a twist out. Rarely do I ever do braid outs or bantu knot outs.

If you were trapped on an island and could only take 3 products, what would they be?

I would take my Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp Conditioner, Chagrin Valley Shampoo Bars, and my Carol’s Daughter Loc Butter. I can not continue for a long period of time with my hair not being clean so I would always need a cleanser. I also need excessive moisture so the conditioner would allow me to easily detangle and provide moisture. The Honey Hemp Conditioner can also be used as a leave in. Loc Butter would give me the hold and amazing curl pattern.

Natural hair is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get! Go for it! If you want to go natural just try it and if you don’t like, go back to a relaxer. Be patient and give it some time to adjust.

Monday, 30 April 2012

Most of us have heard some horror stories about natural gals straightening their hair...and when it is all said and done there is some degree of heat damage.. Those stories have always made me apprehensive on if I wanted to do such a thing to my tresses. I put the fear behind me and decided to trust an Atlanta stylist.

My last relaxer was in July 2009 and my 3 year nappversary is coming up. This is the first time I straightened my hair since becoming a natural gal. I wanted to do something different for this wedding and the stylist ended up being SUPERB. I walked into the hair shop with my kinky and koily hair.. As usual people were asking to touch my hair (atleast they ask, some just touch..smh)... When the straightening process was over.. people were complimenting me on the straight look but some preferred the kinky & koily me.. very interesting experience.. I felt like a relaxed gal. a few hours later my hair wanted to revert to its natural state.. for this reason, not quite sure if I will straighten my hair again..but we shall see..

Sunday, 29 April 2012

Long time. I have been on a school break and to me that = time to travel. I ended up in a few different places... From Champaign, IL.. Chicago... Atlanta... Dallas.. London... Scotland.. I thoroughly enjoyed myself but the journey has ended. Off to the Cayman Islands tomorrow to start another school semester...My school thinks it is a great idea to have school in session all year... not sure if I agree, but such is life..

Unfortunately, I was not camera happy on this trip b/c I have been to every location before except for Dallas.... so here are just a few pics of my trip & the hair!! No pics of London or Scotland..I used to live in London so I have tons in my stash..let me know if you want to see some!!!

Monday, 23 April 2012

A photographer friend of mine suggested this next Hairlight of the Day. The 24 year old naturalista has a unique name for her hair... Please welcome "Lola". She started growing Lola in 2009 and by her hair regimen below, one can sense she invests the time needed to nurture her natural. Check out her natural hair story below!

Introduce yourself

My name is Jharmaine Boyd and I am 24 years old.

Location

I am located in Chicago, IL and I am about to relocate to Los Angeles, CA.

Describe your hair in one word

Lola. Her name is Lola.

Where are you in your hair journey and what are your future hair plans

I have been natural since 2009. My future plans are to keep it healthy and grow it to shoulder length un-stretched.

What is your hair regimen

I don’t really use any products because I like make my own. I love making my own products because it gives me control of what goes into my hair. Plus, I feel like a hair chef! My hair regimen is clarifying with Apple Cider Vinegar mixture (1/3 ACV and 2/3 Water) when necessary. I wash with Terressentials Mud Wash because it is an USDA approved organic product. There are a lot of products that say they are “organic”. However a product only needs 70% of their ingredients to be organic to claim they are an “organic” product. As such, I did my research and came across Naptural85 who introduce me to Terressentials Mud Wash. To learn more about Terressentials Mud Wash, check out http://www.terressentials.com/haircare.html. Furthermore, I deep treat with my honey and oil mixture (I do not use eggs or mayo because I am protein sensitive). Next, I close my cuticles with my leave in conditioner mix (Intelligent Nutrients leave in conditioner (USDA approved organic product), oils, and aloe vera juice) and top it off by moisturizing with Naptural85’s shea butter mixture. I also oil my scalp with a mixture of oils because my scalp is like a desert storm! I was the kid that my mother would put Blue Magic grease on my scalp and would wonder why in four hours my hair was so dry!

What sparked your interest in hair

In February 2006, I was at a Big XII conference for Black Student Government. I was attending a seminar on America Assimilation to Caucasian American culture. The speaker, which was a guy, spoke on black women feeling the need to wear their hair straight. I never thought about why I felt it was necessary to wear my hair straight. No one has ever asked me until that moment. I made a decision that I would grow out my perm the year before I graduated. I decided to wait until 2008 because I didn’t want to lose my hair. When I made the decision, there was no such thing as a big chop. I made the decision to grow it out during the years of 2008 and 2009.

What is your favorite hairstyle

I love to wear my hair out and free! I love when Lola can just be herself in all her wildness and glory! I am not a big fan of protective styles, but I do understand it is a must to retain length.

If you were stranded on an island and what 3 products would you have in your bag

Terressentials mud wash, shea butter, and jojoba oil

Are you a blogger

I am not a hair blogger, but I love to read other blogs and watch YouTube videos. My favorite naturalista is Naptural85! She is great and really informative.

Is there a blog or webpage where people can find you

Nope! However, people can email me at jharmaine.boyd@gmail.com if they have any questions or concerns.

Words of Hairdom

I have always loved to be different and not like everyone else. I wanted to make my curly mane one of a kind so I decided to color it. If you look at my pictures my hair has multiple different colors in it. This is over a course of two years of different colors. As you know, hair coloring can be very harmful. I know if I did not color my hair I would have reached my length goal a long time ago. As such, I did my research and discovered that I can naturally lighten my hair with honey, olive oil, and cinnamon. It has really worked and it is very moisturizing. I still get the color I want, without the harmful effects. It takes a few times for the color to take, but it is well worth the wait! My advice is to research a natural/organic method or products for any hair related issues. I believe if there is a harmful/synthetic method or ingredient there has to be a healthy one!

Feel free to send me a quick message to yemiadaynatural@gmail.com if you or someone you know would like to be the next Hairlight of the Day. Until next time, love yourself, love your hair, and be loved.

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About Me

I am Nigerian made, Illinois raised,and future doctor. Currently living in the Cayman Islands attending classes at this place they call "med school." I am a 2014 medical school graduate and passionate about people embracing their natural self. View, Follow,Comment, and Share and enjoy my hair chronicles "Adé" at a time.